Delicious - Sustainable - Diverse

Family owned & operated small farm in rural Northern Idaho

Sustainability

Permaculture and sustainability are key practices employed at Farm Arcadia. Permaculture means we design and develop our farm to mimic parts of nature for the long-term benefit of the plants we wish to harvest and for the long-term health of the environment. Sustainability goes hand-in-hand with permaculture. Our yield per acre will not be as great as intensive monoculture farming, but we don't need it to be. We have designed our farm to support and re-invest in itself.

​We purchase our hay and grain from local suppliers. Our aim is to eliminate the need for any outside fertilizers through composting the bedding and waste of our livestock. If needed, we bring in long-term soil amendments for initial corrections to the soil, such as adjusting the pH. Whey from our dairy that would normally be considered waste, fruit and vegetable scraps from processing (such as peels or cores), and garden plants pulled from the garden are fed to livestock, which regard these "waste" products as treats. We integrate different parts of our farm so they share nutrients that would otherwise be discarded. This improves the health and quality of all involved.

​Northern Idaho, including our part of it, is rich with wildlife. We enjoy have our wild neighbors, even the predators. While we try to limit their presence in part of our farm where they could destroy the garden and orchard or kill our animals, they benefit from the rehabilitated and improved pastures and enlarged and new ponds. We maintain a forest area where some wildlife like to hide their babies or seek shelter from prying eyes. Our first approach is to use non-lethal deterrents to protect our livestock while peacefully coexisting with the surrounding wildlife. For our safety and the safety of our animals, there is no hunting on our farm. Besides, we produce plenty of food making hunting unnecessary. So even if you're tempted by the regular flock of turkeys, deer, or elk, don't bother asking to hunt here!

Are we organic?

We are not licensed as organic for any of our products. There are many things we disapprove of with regards to many businesses that jump through the hoops to get approved as organic while missing what we see as the real point, and we do not want the expense of organic certification. Visit our garden and orchard pages to see what we've applied - most is (if not all) fits within organic guidelines. We do not routinely use antibiotics such as in chick food or when fattening calves. If one of our milking girls gets mastitis or sick some other way, we will treat her with veterinarian-approved antibiotics and withhold her milk as required to avoid any residual drugs in her milk. None of our animals are treated with hormones to increase growth or milk production, such as rBST. What we give our plants and animals is not secret. If it is not disclosed on the website, please feel free to ask us specifically if you are considering purchasing our products.

​Rather than seeking certification to label our food as organic, our approach is to maintain the health of our plants and animals. For example, in our orchard, we try to build up the health of the soil through compost and beneficial understory plants, promote beneficial bugs, and apply natural non-toxic sprays when needed to reduce the impact of pests. With our animals, we aim to keep them well-fed and provide them with plants that help inhibit parasite population growth so they are healthy and vaccinated against common or devastating diseases. If one gets sick, we treat it. If a tree becomes infested, we either remove it and replant or treat it. The overall goal is to promote healthy robust plants and animals that are better capable of resisting problems. Also, the healthier plants and animals produce healthier more delicious food for our family, friends, and customers.